Wayne more or less hit the nail on the head then. The whole of RL outside of SL now exists purely for player development for the ultimate benefit of SL clubs. It's difficult to see how Championship teams can develop in their own right unless there is a meaningful route for aspirational clubs towards SL itself.

Wayne more or less hit the nail on the head then. The whole of RL outside of SL now exists purely for player development for the ultimate benefit of SL clubs. It's difficult to see how Championship teams can develop in their own right unless there is a meaningful route for aspirational clubs towards SL itself.

A few Championship clubs still have that ambition, but no doubt they are in the minority and are on the receiving end of an increasingly difficult hand of cards year-on-year. The vision seems to be that the only route into pro RL should be via the youth development programme of a Super League club, those that don't make it being cascaded down the leagues. Then the RFL wonder why participation figures are declining incurring the wrath of Sport England!

In the case of semi-pro clubs based in areas where the game was not traditionally played the story is slightly different. We've now got quite a lot of them.

As Mark Aston has pointed out this week, the development of young players is not necessarily best served by changing clubs every few months. Gareth O'Brien being a quoted example - 4 different clubs in double quick time - can that really be good for his development?

With home grown stars like Yere Taulapau and Toagage its hard to argue with Ashtons point of view hes really leading the way. Signing Tom Armstrong from us and the recent Leeds loanee back up his argument

Many Leigh fans were decrying our reliance on Warrington players after they beat us earlier this season whilst all but two of their team had been signed in from elsewhere and usually from a higher level.

So maybe its not just as easy as saying something ambiguous. Maybe teams at all level fail to see the long term picture and instead rely on the hope that super league cast offs will bring more instant success. Is it that they aren't prepared to accept the dip in form that a transition from that to developing youngsters brings?

With home grown stars like Yere Taulapau and Toagage its hard to argue with Ashtons point of view hes really leading the way. Signing Tom Armstrong from us and the recent Leeds loanee back up his argument

Many Leigh fans were decrying our reliance on Warrington players after they beat us earlier this season whilst all but two of their team had been signed in from elsewhere and usually from a higher level.

So maybe its not just as easy as saying something ambiguous. Maybe teams at all level fail to see the long term picture and instead rely on the hope that super league cast offs will bring more instant success. Is it that they aren't prepared to accept the dip in form that a transition from that to developing youngsters brings?

Maybe that's what Chambers is trying to do know?

Akin to a poilitician taking the stand with the message, "Vote for me, because the alternatives are even worse". Becomes an advertisement for "None of the above" - a category the vast majority of people already belong to so far as RL is concerned.

The RFL ought to have done a better job of stress testing the rules before they were introduced, but they are also duty bound to look beyond the mindset of, "Club A has done this, Club B has done that" and consider what is best for development of young players in the round. From that perspective Mark Aston's points have some validity.

Whilst I doubt the RFL would have the "spheres" to take on the top flight clubs, one possible conclusion is that by pulling funding for academies Super League clubs have damaged the development of these players. A possible alternative message being - "Now you have scrapped the highest level of academy rugby, your choice is to put the players concerned into your first team squad, or release them". Should they be released, a logical destination for a good proportion of these players being the Championships, but as bone fide Championship players rather than Dual Registered players.

Instead we have Super League clubs wanting to have their cake and eat it, done in such a way that the credibility and integrity of the Championships has taken a big hit, but its also arguable that the young players themselves are not being well served.

My guess is that Tony Smith and Tony Rea came to an agreement that Shaw would spend some time with the Broncos, as a follow-on to Mendieka having done likewise, to aid the development of both players by giving them exposure to another Super League environment.

Up to the loan deal Ryan I think had played in every game for us. Doesnt really matter who what why or where his contract lies hes played to the best of his ability every week and given his all TO SWINTON.

I guess because it now suits the argument and it makes it a bit contrary, aiding a players development is now to be frowned upon. Going to another club to aid this development is now a WHAT ? a good thing? whereas moving too many times a week ago was bad?(a la Gareth Obrien) .

Salford signing loads of old stagers is also ok because Koukash is great but the impact on youth develpment there and the likely loss of a contract to some up and coming youngster is ok.